A mental health lobby has partnered with public and private hospitals to raise awareness and support mothers facing postpartum depression, stillbirth trauma and related challenges in Vihiga county.
On Wednesday, Thalia Psychotherapy Group unveiled the Maisha Mothers Programme, which integrates mental health checks into routine hospital visits to normalise treatment, reduce stigma and enable early intervention.
During the launch at Kapchemgum Secondary School in Hamisi subcounty, Thalia chief operations officer Mercy Mwende warned that some mothers turn to substance abuse as a coping mechanism, stressing the need for preventive care.
“Mental health is still underfunded, yet many mothers silently battle depression due to poverty, lack of access to care and traumatic deliveries,” Mwende said.
“Every hospital in Kenya should be able to screen, diagnose and treat patients without stigma and without breaking the bank.”
More than 100 mothers received free screenings.
Under the initiative, Thalia provides trained professionals and digital tools, while hospitals share revenue from mental health services to sustain operations without straining county budgets.
The programme also runs the Maisha Duka scheme, which offers subsidised household goods such as baby diapers, sugar and maize flour through community health promoters.
Mental health experts welcomed the initiative, with Emuhaya-based counsellor Ruth Amuko urging the government to include maternal mental health services under the Social Health Authority’s universal insurance scheme.
Jackline Iminza, a young mother from Jepkoyai who struggled with depression after financial hardship and abandonment, said the programme has eased her burden.
“Together with my baby, we have faced many challenges, but we are recovering. Access to therapy and affordable goods has made a huge difference,” Iminza said.
The World Health Organization estimates that one in four people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime—a statistic reflected in Kenya, where cases of depression, anxiety, substance abuse and suicide are on the rise.
